My month of Jainism showed me just how hard it is to break routine. I’ve spent most of my life living a certain way, i.e.- without religion. Having a religion makes demands on me that I am not used to- it changes my day-to-day life. When I was a Jain I had to ensure that I spent a certain amount of time each day in meditation. Odd as it sounds, I had a hard time finding the time to just sit and be still.

Now I have to find time to pray, which had been less problematic as it takes really no time at all.  But still, it is odd how the littlest of things can really mess up your day and force yourself to reprioritize.

But it is these little changes that really get at the heart of what I am trying to do during the Year of Faith.  These new parts of my routine are what reinforce religion in people, these daily reminders that make the ideas alive.

I have never had a ritual component in my life, no sacred space or ideas.  Now I have periods of prayer and meditation to remind me of what principles and outlook I should be adhering to.  I kind of like that, a time every day to remind myself of what is important.  It is easy to forget.

More practical than a tattoo, anyway.